Evora 400 review

We are all unique in our likes and dislikes and every car has a virtue not unlike the music or food we like. I spent a year deciding what to buy and researched my second hand price range extensively from a big range of parameters.

Porsche people buy Porsche's, Ferrari the same, so getting people to change marques based on a Magazine article is almost pointless.
I find Journos who appreciate the cars for what they are to me the most honest, and Chris Harris comes to mind,

I need to clarify the following as to why I bought a Demo 400 and the these were the cars in my price range issues If Porsche Ferrari and Lambos built engine anywhere near as maintenance or trouble free as the Evora Engine, the choice would have been much harder. The following issues, I identified, IMS bearing issues with Porsche's, The con-rod and nikasil liner and clutch replacement and price issues in Lambos and did I mention Ferrari valve guides or engines out for cam belts.

And don't get me started in the issue of Infotainment systems there just there to entertain drivers of boring cars who spend their life in traffic, my phone is the best nav system, and I don't need a car to use it.

 

Just so everyone knows as far as reliability is concerned... My Evora 400 has been owned for 1 year 1 month, and is at 9000 miles on the odometer. I pretty much daily drive it in all weather except snow and aside from having the TPMS’ updated to a new design (covered 100% under warranty) have had no issues with the car. Still 100% satisfied with my decision over a Gallardo, F430, GT4, R8, etc...

 

I can also back up the reliability side, when I bought mine, as I think mentioned has 57,000ks in 22 months as a demo but to be fair most of that is the freeway trips to and from the CEOs home and office which I estimate at 160k's a day.
When I quizzed the dealer he said there was a minor issue which I think from memory was an air temp sensor.

 

I dropped the car off today for a new screen and a clear bra and have asked for a copy of the service records, I will let you all know if there were any unusual issues.

 

There should be not mechanical issues with the V6, its toyota highlander unit, designed to go 300k miles. These motors also have oil squirters on the uderside of the pistons. However 350 or 400hp from a 3.5 supercharged unit is hardley outstanding and once you add the supercharger and hardware its hardley light.
The relatively heavy internals and flywheel means while the power is there its a little less snappy than say a Gt3 motor.None of this really matters on street.

In in all fairness my v6 is smoother and argualbly sounds better than my ferrari flat 12. However take this motor to the track, which is a natural lotus habitat and its drawbacks become more stark. Like all supercharged motors heat soak is an issue and the computer makes mixtures are richer and timimg/power is dialed back after a lap or two to keep internal air temps where they need to be to save the motor. Which brings us the the second drawback, the rods in these motors cant really take much above 400hp esp when supercharged and runing near the limit of detonation. Then you have things like a bit too heavy flywheel etc.

Done right, like porche does with say a Gt3, the toyota motor with have lightened forged inetrnals, it would be more snappy and easily able to handle 500hp or at least not needing to dial back power so much to save itself. There are other potential issues like oiling under cornering Gs. You cant put slicks on a 311 because in the absence of a dry sump even the baffled pan cant handle the Gs, this is also the rumored reason why there is no exige 430R.

Whats ineteresting is toyota makes a far better motor with all the good bits in this size for lexus, but they wont sell that one to Lotus.


Going forwards imo if lotus is going to be a +100k car it needs a motor to go with that. It doesent have to be a bespoke lotus motor, there are lots of off the rack options, they just need to move their game on, without losing their essential essence.

The current mtor is all fine and good on the street, sounds great and is really smooth, plus its relaible, but beyond that there are drawbacks to the toyota mill that will hold lotus back in the future.

Still nothing out there like a lotus, unless you count the new alpine.

 

Interesting post re motor issues on track. I hadn't heard of that.

 

Yep you have to think of 355hp stock as a sustainable 320 on track. Theres also lots of tq which is good.
A Cold air intake and louvres instead of glass for the rear hatch. Youre at 380 hp and probably a sustained 350.
Using race gas is also advised, runs cooler better sustained power, although peak is the same.

So figure on track after 5 laps youre around 350hp 300ftlbs of tq in a light car.

There is a company that builds 550hp motors they change the internals add a bigger blower which runs cooler, and intercool. 550 is the limit of the gearbox, and that will need a seprate cooler to survive on track with those numbers. 30k at least.

of course a better way to go faster is to drive better, improve handling with shocks springs etc and leave the motor stock exept for a CAI.

 

Interesting from what I’m told Lotus have seen 550hp from the stock motor and it in the same base block that’s used in the LEXUS.
Internally the motor has forged rods, this documented in the lotus manuals for 400.
Lotus use the port injection version over the direct injection version and probably for good reason due to the valve fouling problems of the early direct engine motors. This was resolved with later duel injection engine.
I was a bit surprised that lotus has achieved what they have with a wet sump, but packaging a dry sump setup would take some engineering but not insurmountable and added cost, there lies an aftermarket opportunity for some one may be even lotus.
As for the engine sound it is amazing what they have achieved with the exhaust. The first time I opened the exhaust in a tunnel it made a friend and I giggle like school chridren doing naughty in class.
Recently I heard a 488 leave a petrol station and join a freeway, I hope they sound good in the car because it sounded b awful externally.
I am on the ALPINE interested list but when the opportunity came to get the 400 at the price I did, I jumped on it,

 

There is a difference between making hp and a motor being able to sustain Hp and live. You can build a pushrod ford V8 for under 10k to make 500hp and you can make one that will live to 20k. But yes the block architecture in both cases is the same.

There is far more internal difference between the lexus and toyota motor than injection systems. From what Lotus told me toyota was unwilling to sell them their better V6, and that is one reason why lotus has been looking for different engine suppliers because " toyota wont sell us their good stuff".

Whatver rods you believe Lotus uses they cant sustain more than 450 or so Hp in the modern context where you run an ideal af ratio and use a knock sensor to keep things near the limit.. The track version of the 311 has or had 460. Subsequent version of the motor including the 311 are now at 430 hp. With the motor now intercooled making 500hp is not an issue, the motor living is. Intercooling means less heat soak delayed/less knock possibility hence more and sustained power (430)., it does not mean the motor internals are stronger.

Apparently when you get near knock the rods turn to powder. I'm not talking about actual dieseling knock, because all motors have knock sensors these days, but on the toyota engine here you cant get a whif of it, because it creates stress on the rods..Thats one reason we see on these motors on a dyno an AF ratio of 10.1, so as to avoid the possibility of knock.

Thats why engine builders change the internals when going above 460-500hp. On track it would be deadly for the motor without internals being changed.

As for the block. they run off-road cars on oz with these motors in twin turbo setup over 800hp reliably with no issues, but they do change the rods and pistons.

This is in the end a highlander engine, toyota is in the habbit of making money, so they are not putting 600hp rods in it. BTW the highlander engine differs from the camry only in that a highlander block is tapped for oil coolers because it has a tow package which requires a separate oil cooler. The heads are also considered to be superb because they were designed for max efficiency, and efficiency and Hp come the same way with great combustion and breathing, however the cams are for a road car SUV which like low rev and midrange Tq not a sportscar which thrives on power growing through the rev range.
Its is an exceptionaly smooth motor, smoother than my ferrari flat 12, and sounds way better than pretty much any new car..

A turbo car can try fake great sound, but turbos muffle sound and blend individual cylinder pulses by definition, theres also turbo lag which no matter how its worked around is still present. A NA or supercharged car sounds way better and tuneful, plus throttle response is directly wired to your foot in a way a turbo car simply cant acheive.

However you look at it, the 430 is Gt3 money, and while I love the lotus, its motor is no Gt3 motor, but then the 991 series porche is a bloated porker.. As for the wet sump. I know of at least one person who refused to take delivery of his 460hp 311 when he heard that if you put slicks on it, oil starvation will be an issue, and dry sump retrofit was quoted at some huge number.

lotus has done remarkable things with a shoestring budget, but there are compromises.
Done right the toyota V6 would have new rods pistons, hi po cams and would be delivering 550 reliable hp with lots of power avialble in the upper reaches of the rev band, and be dry sumped. . But then the motors would cost lotus 25K instead of 10K, they would need to built up that that way in house requiring facilities and employes to do so, and such a motor would need to be recertified for emissions, a complicated task because the toyota exhaust manifolds and cats wont cut it at that power level, so youre taking an entirely new exhaust system too(not talking muffler).

Nevertheless with superlative chassis and losing weight Lotus has worked around the limitations of the motor and kept relative performance. Going past this point they need a new motor, or to build up the toyota motors with better internals and cams as above.

Meanwhile for 1/2 the price of a ferrai/porche rebuild, the aftermarket will sell a new 550hp motor that thrives on revs and will last all day long.

 

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Great insight, thank you oil coolers are fitted to 410 and 430’s in some climates, so that then begs the question as to which blocks lotus get. As they already have oil water heat exchangers and options for manual gearbox oil coolers

 

I will just say its funny how Lotus are never good enough yet every where I go it grabs attention. Tons of attention almost to a fault. Numbers don't mean nothing and I don't track my car. All this smart guy talk goes out the window when I fire up my 2010 NA and that smiles goes across my face and doesn't stop till I get home. I don't race as I have nothing to prove to any non believers......Most people don't get it till they own one for a while, at least 6 months then it hits them like a 2 ton heavy thing.

My Lotus stays with me as other cars come and go.

 

Id say its not recognised enough for how good Lotus cars are and I now believe that is changing.
I really like this Australian video and his comments are absolutely spot on,

 

I have not seen another Evora (of any year) other than the one Algar had gotten on a trade in (it was sold) in at least 2 years. Even many of the car people I talk to have never driven one. The local dealer closed a long time ago, and now the closest dealer is Victory lotus (shares the lot with their Jeep franchise) in Princeton NJ. Most people seem to think these cars are trouble prone, though I have had more issues with other brands than with the 400. I did have a TPMS issue (fixed itself), and the rear hatch sometimes takes a few tries (and pushing down on it while I hit the release button on the key) to get open. I have always believed you (at least I cant) cannot tell how a car drives from video or written review, and not many people have ever actually driven one. Unless it is winter weather I see Porsches, AM, Bentley's & Ferrari's every day on the road, but like I said earlier a Lotus in a rare site. My car is the color of the one in the video above, it is hard to miss, and it get plenty of the what the heck is that looks.

 

Would like to see 400 tested vs vette and porsche. Imagine result would be vette best stats, lotus best handling, but porsche best overall.

 

I think this will answer you question
https://www.roadandtrack.com/car-culture/a31275/2017-performance-car-of-the-year/

Lotus’s reputation for unreliability was sadly from the early cars and like all manufactures the second series often sorted the
problems an soon., Second had cars added to the issue more, due to the fact that the cars were more a product of the previous owners than the factory.
Having owned hand made cars from an number of high end marques they all have their issues and some are just unforgivable slack quality not just at manufacture level but inventory purchase level.... don’t get me started.

Personally I find now new cars are so complicated the majority of the populous don’t know how to use the Board Driver Entertainment Aids I qualify this on the focus by jurnos on ICE systems.
To me Lotus’s focus on lightness also simplify things Aircon that works to have an ALPINE sound system was high end, now unless it is bespoke made for that brand and tells you you need a cup of coffee it’s rubbish, how we have become so dependant on tech. My phone has the best apps and I’d rather use it for navigation and it’s easily updated, OH sir your ICE needs new maps we will do that the service for the cost off...

I’ve gotten o bit off track , I just took my 400 on a freeway and back country 300 k trip, loaded to the max two big soft bags in the boot, two more soft bags, two pillows and two pot plants. The way the car covers rough roads is to be experienced, Yes it has a taught ride but it rides better than my dads 2011 Honda Accord. It’s the first car I have ever been able to use cruise control on back roads. You need to, as it’s natural cruise speed is in “loss of licence territory” and it places you wouldnt think.

 

I fully aggree that Lotus are seen by the general public as more "exotic" than the "common" exotics. I must disaggree that one must live with one for at least six months, as I had an Evora for three days and fell absolutely in love (and still are).

I deeply regret not buying it immediatly, as it was perfect (for me). When two months later I decided to take the plunge, the car was gone. There are currently no (used) Evoras for sale in my country.

 

It seems after most buy them they go through a period where they have to fix little nagging issues that you don't go through with say a Porsche of the same price range. It's a Lotus thing for sure. I fell in love the first moment I drove mine but then dealing with the issues got to me and I almost let it go. Once I got everything in proper working order I came back around. I see it a LOT with Evora owners. They tend to go through a buyers remorse for a bit then get over it. You see it over and over on Lotus Talk.

 

There is for a lot of first time lotus owners the adjustment to what a Lotus is like to live with.
I personally didn’t like the styling of the first series cars all except as I recently saw pictures of the GTE, thats just stunning.

And buying second hand it takes a while to sort the odd thing.
The 400 I bought had 35,000 miles in in 22 months but the majority were freeway and Jurnalists yep jurnos doing ther thing including track work. It held up so well, It gave me the confidence to buy it. Yes there are some odd things like knurled nut on the battery cover, and I just found the little chrome tip if the drivers air vent is missing. The odd intermittent trim noise yes there annoying but simple to sort.

But wholly dooley the thing is quick, stable even on rough roads, and so involving to drive.

 

Whats a 400 like on back Aussie roads and Freeways, very impressive.
The back roads are undulating and in places rough rolling pitching 100K limit. I just did an 800 k trip the car is amazing, yes its taught but its very controlled and very connected, its just what I'd hoped and more. love the performance especially when passing, love the supercharger whine combined with the solid shove, very addictive.

 

You can say that again about the litle nagging issues I found myself having to insert the key and take it out again just because of the immobiliser, and the navigation system had graphics that looked straight out of the late 1990's and the heat that builded in the trunk

But I have to admit I really loved it.

 

Its a handbuilt car, there will be little nagging issues, peopel pay premium form bespoke products.. However the days of a lotus being "unable to proceed" are long gone. these are very reliable cars.

Also while there are not too many dealers about, there are many specialists about. In fact in many instances a specialist can take better care of your car than a dealer.

Besides delivery, mine have never been to dealer.

Couple of otehr great things about a lotus. They are infinetly upgradeable and modyfiable, supported by a vast network of parts suppliers and upgraders.. You have to get into truck world to see the same level of upgrades.
Porches ferraris those cars are upgareded if at all with visiual chcotchies.

lotus is all about drivign and "real" useable eprformance.

If they can promote those vistues, well then as we know lotus is the last "authetic" produiction car "brand" in existance. Lets hope it stays that way.

Besides Lotus I have some German and Italian metal. Maybe I drove those other cars 4times each last year. Seriously once youve really driven a lotus, its hard/pointles to go back to relatively lifeless steering, heavy weight, delayed reactions, etc.

 

I have come from the same car history background as yourself I have been trying to find the words to describe it to others and your description is absolutely spot on.

 

Agreed

 

I have my 400 is insured for limited use and that helps enormously with the cost of premiums, however I struggle to not use it be cause its so Beeping good to drive. However I know that limited use also means each time I do use it, its an event
Other fun thing me buying the car has contributed to the 100% in Australia sales growth in the last twelve months (65 cars across the range)
I wounder how the US will go over the next twelve months

 

Hi Praise Indeed
https://www.roadandtrack.com/new-cars/road-tests/a20084364/900-miles-two-racetracks-28-hours-the-lotus-evora-400-shrugs-off-our-torture-test/?src=nl&mag=rdt&list=nl_rdt_news&date=042718